Marco Tobón Mejía (1876-1933) was a Colombian sculptor,

draughtsman A draughtsman (British spelling) or draftsman (American spelling) may refer to: * An architectural drafter, who produced architectural drawings until the late 20th century * An artist who produces drawings that rival or surpass their other types o ...

, and painter. He lived in France for almost all his career, where he met and formed relationships with several prominent artists, including

Auguste Rodin François Auguste René Rodin (; ; 12 November 184017 November 1917) was a French sculptor generally considered the founder of modern sculpture. He was schooled traditionally and took a craftsman-like approach to his work. Rodin possessed a u ...

Aristide Maillol Aristide Joseph Bonaventure Maillol (; December 8, 1861 – September 27, 1944) was a French sculptor, painter, and printmaking, printmaker.Le Normand-Romain, Antoinette . "Maillol, Aristide". ''Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online''. Oxford ...

, and

Antoine Bourdelle Antoine Bourdelle (; 30 October 1861 – 1 October 1929), born Émile Antoine Bordelles, was an influential and prolific French sculptor and teacher. He was a student of Auguste Rodin, a teacher of Giacometti and Henri Matisse, and an important ...

. He worked mostly within neoclassic and

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...

styles, and is known especially for his sculptures in bronze,

electroplate Electroplating, also known as electrochemical deposition or electrodeposition, is a process for producing a metal coating on a solid substrate through the reduction of cations of that metal by means of a direct electric current. The part to be ...

, and

pewter Pewter () is a malleable metal alloy consisting of tin (85–99%), antimony (approximately 5–10%), copper (2%), bismuth, and sometimes silver. In the past, it was an alloy of tin and lead, but most modern pewter, in order to prevent lead poi ...

. Several of his pieces can be found in the

Colombian National Museum The National Museum of Colombia () is the National Museum of Colombia housing collections on its history of Colombia, history, art of colombia, art, culture of Colombia, culture. Located in the Santa Fe, Bogotá, Santa Fe locality of Bogotá, Colo ...

. His marble statues ''Poetry'' and ''The Silence'' are dedicated to the Colombian poet

José Asunción Silva José Asunción Silva (27 November 1865 in Bogotá – 23 May 1896 in Bogotá) was a Colombian poet. He is considered one of the founders of Latin American Modernismo. Life Born to a wealthy and educated Bogotá family, Asunción Silva led a c ...

Biography

Tobón was born in

Santa Rosa de Osos Santa Rosa de Osos is a middle city and Municipalities of Colombia, municipality of Colombia located in the Northern Antioquia, northern of the Departments of Colombia, department of Antioquia Department, Antioquia. Bounded on the north with the ...

, near

Medellín Medellín ( ; or ), officially the Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Medellín (), is the List of cities in Colombia, second-largest city in Colombia after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia Departme ...

, Colombia. His artistic career began with drawing and painting. While in Colombia, he studied with Francisco Antonio Cano, and together they contributed to the magazine ''Lectura y arte'' (Reading and Art). During his residence in Cuba between 1905 and 1909, he also did covers and illustrations for the magazine ''Le Figaro'' and others. From 1910 to 1930, he created several small bronze reliefs of academic nudes. He died in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

at the age of 57.

Selected works

* ''Statue to Cisneros'' in Plaza Cisneros, Medellín, Colombia * ''Poetry (La Poesia)'', 1914, female nude in

white marble Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of carbonate minerals (most commonly calcite (CaCO3) or dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) that have recrystallized under the influence of heat and pressure. It has a crystalline texture, and is typically not foliat ...

, Colombian National Museum * ''The Silence (El Silencio)'', Colombian National Museum * Sculpture of José María Cordoba * ''Monument to the Flag'', 1931, November 11 Park * Tombstone for

Pedro Justo Berrío Pedro Justo Berrío was a Colombian lawyer, soldier, and politician. He held several legislative positions throughout his life, including governor of Anitioquia from 1864 to 1873. He was born in the municipality of Santa Rosa de Osos of Antioqui ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mejia, Marco Tobon 1876 births 1933 deaths 20th-century Colombian sculptors Draughtsmen Art Nouveau sculptors People from Antioquia Department 20th-century sculptors